Device for removing and installing tubular lamps



l. R. SELTZER 3,329,459

DEVICE FOR REMOVING AND INSTALLING TUBULAR LAMPS July 4, 1967 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR, IRA R. SELTzER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,329,459 DEVICE FOR REMOVING AND INSTALLING TUBULAR LAMPS Ira R. Seltzer, 307 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, Calif. 91105 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,834 1 Claim. (Cl. 294-20) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sectional insulated pole with jaws at its upper end for gripping tubular lamps has a spring-actuated mechanism which insures a firm grip on the lamps until the jaws are separated by relative movement of the pole sections. The mechanism emits a clicking sound when the jaws reach lamp-gripping position.

The present invention is an improvement upon Patent No. 3,101,212 granted Aug. 20, 1963, to Harold T. Cater and Lloyd 0. Waibel and of which the present inventor is an exclusive licensee.

It has been found that it is necessary to assure that the jaws holding a tubular lamp grip with a positive force and one that is not readily released. Jaws that release a tubular lamp while a tubular lamp is being removed from its end terminals, often allows the tubular lamp to be dropped with resultant breakage. Furthermore, the present invention assures that the workman installing or removing a tubular lamp can both audibly and by touch determine that the jaws are gripping the lamp.

As devices of the character of the present invention are utilized'to remove tubular lamps from great heights, an object of the present invention is to assure the installer or remover of a tubular lamp that the tubular lamp is properly gripped and will not be released accidently.

Devices of the type of the present invention, allow not only installation of the tubular lamp in the end terminals therefor, but permit easier release of the tubular lamp from said terminals.

A further object is to provide a device for removing and installing tubular lamps which is positive. in its operation, inexpensive in cost of manufacture, easily manipulated, and generally superior to devices of this character now known to the inventor.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the device of the present invention for installing or removing a tubular lamp from its end terminals;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the invention, and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the tubular pole and showing a cam construction for actuating a link joining the movable jaw shown in FIG- URES l and 2; and,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

The present invention includes a pair of jaws 1 and 2 which are transversely arcuate and hinged together at 3 along contiguous longitudinal edges thereof, the jaw 2 being movable while the jaw 1 is stationary. The jaw 1 is secured to one end of a sleeve 4 and sleeve 4 forms one member of a series of members which form a pole made of tubular sections, as shown at 5 and 6 by way of example. Other tubular sections may be telescopic in nature and joined to the section 6 and reference is made to Patent 3,101,212 for such a construction. It will be observed that section 5 has a reduced diameter portion at 7 3,329,459 Patented July 4, 1967 to permit its reception within the sleeve 4. An end piece or cap 8 closes the upper end of the tube portion 7. The end piece 8 is provided with an axial stud 9 which extends through an internal annular flange 10 of section 4. The stud is provided with an external flange 12, which flange 12 is spaced from flange 10 when the parts are assembled and the space between the two flanges 10 and 12 is adapted to receive a spring type washer 11 which holds the parts assembled for relative rotation. Thus there may be relative rotation between the sleeve 4 and tubular section 5.-The jaw 1 is rigidly held to the upper end of sleeve 4 in any appropriate manner such as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5 wherein the sleeve 4 at its upper end is provided with a pair of diametric flanges 15 and 16 extending outwardly from the sleeve and which flanges are secured to the jaw 1 by means of rivets 17 passed through the flanges and the jaw as shown in said figures. Thus, the flanges 15 and 16 as well as the upper end of the sleeve 4 are slightly arcuate to accommodate the arcuate jaw 1. Any turning movement of jaw 1 will turn sleeve 4 or vice versa.

The hinge 3 may be conveniently formed in any manner and in the present instance the jaw 2 is provided with an offset longitudinal pint-1e 20 received in a longitudinal knuckle likewise offset along one edge of the jaw 1 as shown at 21. This construction allows separation between the jaws as for instance the jaw 2 may swing approximately relative to jaw 1 and when closed the inner edges of the jaws are separated approximately 15. This allows easy reception of the tubular lamp between the jaws when the jaws are opened and also adequately embraces the tubular lamp when the jaws are closed. Fitted within the member 5 and particularly the reduced diameter portion 7 is a block or spool 25. Member 25 is provided with an intermediate portion 26 provided with circular end flanges 27 and 28 which fit within the portion 7. The intermediate portion 26 I term a web and has greater width than thickness as is apparent by comparing FIG- URE 2 and FIGURE 3 shown in FIGURE 3. The Web 26 is provided with a lateral protuberance 29 which extends from the web to substantially the inner surface of portion 7 and both the protuberance and the web are bored and screw threaded as shown in FIGURE 2 at30.

The sleeve 4 is provided wtih a longitudinal slot 31 while portion 7 of tubular section 5 is provided with a transverse cam slot 35 which is exposed through slot 31 The upper end of slot 35 is provided with a snap locli portion 36. It will be observed from FIGURE 4 that the edge 37 of-the cam slot ext-ends upwardly and joins a downwardly curved edge 38 which curved edge extends to and joins the upper edge 39 of the cam slot. A bolt or screw 45 has a threaded portion 46 received within the threaded bore 30, a smooth surface portion at 47 for reception within the cam slot 35 and a flat sided end 48. A link 50 has a bifurcated end 51 receiving therebetween the flat sided end 48 and pinned thereto as shown at 52. The opposite end of the link 50 is also bifurcated as shown at 53 for reception therebetween of flat sided member 54 attached to the jaw 2 adjacent the hinge 3, the link and the part 54 being connected by means of a pin 55. The member 54 constitutes a split hinge or stud, see FIGURE 3. The stud or hinge 54 may be secured to the jaw 2 in any appropriate manner such as by riveting, welding or the like. Interposed between the flange 27 and the cap 8 of tubular member 5 is a coil spring 60. This coil spring is normally maintained in slight compression.

I have provided a connector 65 of insulation material between the tubular members 5 and 6 and which connector is substantially cylindrical being received within the tubular members 5 and 6 and bolted thereto by bolts 66 and 67 passed through aligned bores of the tubes and 6 and bores in the block 65. The block 65 carries intermediate its length an annular flange 68 which separates ends of the tubular members 5 and 6. This is a precaution against stray electric currents which might cause shock to the operator of the device and might cause the operator to drop the pole and a tubular lamp. The remaining telescopic tubular members may be connected by latch means such as disclosed in Patent 3,101,212 without additional insulation blocks between the tubular members.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows.

The operator holds the pole which comprises the telescopic tubular members as well as the tubular sections as previously described, and opens the jaws, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to embrace the tubular lamp. Thus, the bolt 45 is at the lower end of the cam slot 35 or the position shown in both FIGURES 2 and 4, which position opens the jaw 2 relative to jaw 1 to permit easy entrance of a tubular lamp between the jaws. In order to protect the tubular lamp I have provided the inner surface of each jaw with a soft pad. As the tubular lamp in the showing of FIGURE 1 is positioned between end terminals 70 and 71, the tubular pole may be rotated which will cause rotation of sections 5 and 6 relative to sleeve 4 as sleeve 4 is fastened to the jaw 1. The jaws 1 and 2 in the position of FIGURES 1 and 2 encompass the tubular lamp and due to the aforesaid rotation of the pole, the bolt 45 will move within the longitudinal and cam slots 31 and 35 thus moving the link 50 upwardly to close the jaw 2 over the tubular lamp or to the dotted line position at 73. When the bolt 45 moves upwardly within the cam slot the spring 60 is compressed between the cap 8 and the flange 27. When the bolt reaches portion 36 constituting a depressed and rest portion the spring 60 expands slightly as the bolt moves into the portion 38. This rise and descent of the bolt causes a clicking sound or snap as the bolt passes over the slight ridge at 74, FIGURE 4. The spring remains in compression to hold the bolt in locked position. Hence, striking the telescopic pole will not release the bolt from locked position. To open the jaws the bolt must be moved over the ridge 74 under spring compression to permit said bolt to be received in the cam slot which allows the jaws 1 and 2 to separate.

Modern tubular lamps are provided with end stud terminals. The studs are adapted to enter socket portions of end'terminals 70 and 71 for the purpose of feeding electricity to the tubular lamp. As a rule, one end terminal 70 is fixed while the other terminal 71 has a spring socket which engages an electrical stud of the tubular lamp. Accordingly, when the tubular lamp is installed, the stud at one end of said lamp enters the spring socket to compress the spring which permits the opposite stud of the lamp to enter the fixed terminal socket whereupon the tubular lamp is allowed to move securing the tubular lamp between the terminals. To

remove the tubular lamp, the lamp is moved to compress the spring in the spring socket and thus releases the opposite stud from the fixed socket. Accordingly, With the present device, a workman may install with the present invention a tubular lamp at substantially any height above the floor without the use of a ladder. Furthermore, the workman will not experience any electrical shock-due to the construction of the pole which embodies an insulation coupling.

I claim:

A device for facilitating the removal and installation of tubular lamps including: a sectional tubular insulated pole; a fixed lamp-engaging jaw and a complementary movable lamp-engaging jaw, the two jaws being hinged together; the fixed jaw being transversely secured to the upper end of the uppermost pole section; a second tubular pole section; a third tubular pole section; an insulating block received within the second and third pole sections and bolted to both sections, said insulating block having an annular flange intermediate its length which separates the ends of the second and third pole sections; means rotatively securing the second tubular section to the inside of the uppermost pole section; the second tubular section being provided with a cam slot; the uppermost pole section being provided with a longitudinal slot, and the two slots being open to each other; linkage means operatively connected with the movable jaw and having a bolt passed through both said slots, whereby when one tubular section of the pole is rotated relative to the other in' opposite directions, the linkage means closes or opens the movable jaw to permit gripping or release of a tubular lamp; a block fitting the inside walls of the second tubular section and being slidable therein; said linkage means being connected at its lower end to said block by means of said bolt; a coil spring housed under compression in the second tubular section at its upper end; said spring exerting pressure on said slidable block and through said bolt to said linkage means, thence to said movable jaw to cause said jaw to close toward the fixed jaw except when compelled to open by proper manipulation of the two pole sections; the cam slot having a ridge at its upper end and beyond the ridge it has a depressed and rest portion which functions as a snap lock, the spring expanding slightly as the bolt descends into said depressed and rest portion, and the bolt making a clicking sound as it passes over said ridge, thereby advising the operator that the parts are in locked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,482 5/1889 OBeirne l74l38.2 2,555,381 6/ 1951 Thisse 294-20 2,911,246 11/1959 Caruso. 3,101,212 8/1963 Cater 294-20 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

